About the Alpine Tundra

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Alpine tundra is a cold, treeless biome typically at a high altitude. The cold climate of the alpine tundra is due to the lack of greenhouse gasses at such a high altitude. It is found in mountainous regions in western North America, Central Asia, and the West Coast of South America. The alpine and arctic biomes cover about 16% of the Earth's surface. Temperatures in the alpine tundra vary based on altitude, but remain under about 10 degrees celsius. There is typically less than 10 inches of rainfall yearly. Because of such a harsh climate, plants and animals have to adapt to survive such cruel conditions.

Description

Blue highlights areas where alpine tundra is found

Climate

The alpine tundra is very similar to that of the arctic biome in the fact that it has a very cold climate with little amounts of rain. Summer temperatures range from -12 to 10 degrees Celsius. This average has risen over the past few years because of the change in global temperature. Nights, no matter what the season nearly always dip below freezing. Typically, no more than 30 inches of rain falls annually. The alpine biome is typically at high altitudes in the mountains where very few plants can grow. A big difference between the alpine and arctic biomes is that alpine soil is well drained. This in addition to the high altitude and low temperatures makes it hard for plants to grow.

Alpine tundra climatogram

Climate Change: average temperature of alpine tundra has gone up to 10 degrees Celsius in the past few years. Global warming is melting the permafrost in the arctic tundra. Organisms will have to adapt to a new climate which is difficult to do and takes time.

Ski Development: With the development of ski resorts and the use of ski slopes by humans, habitat in the alpine tundra is being destroyed.

Acid Rain: Pollutes snow and water in the alpine tundra which is very harmful to the organisms that live there.

Hunting: Before hunting laws were put into place, animals in the alpine tundra were hunted because of their high price. Because of this, animals like caribou have been hunted to near extinction.

Environmental Threats

Ski development in alpine tundra

Harvested caribou

Loss of permafrost--these mountains used to be covered in snow

Solutions to Climate Change

Acid Rain: The best way to reduce the overall potency of acid rain is for all individuals as well as groups of people to attempt to use less energy from non-green energy sources. Running along side the same idea is that switching to green energy sources such as solar and wind would greatly reduce the amount of (SO2) and (NOx) that is released. These two are the two major components that make acid rain a deadly precipitation.

Climate Change: Very similar to acid rain, climate change is just a bigger effect overall. The solutions are somewhat similar in that using less energy as well as picking smarter energy sources are the best ways to reduce our human impact on climate change.

Ski Development: Similar to hunting, the best way to “solve” human threats in places like the tundra is simply to be stricter when we enforce laws and boundaries. By making certain areas “no build” areas, in reduces human involvement and therefore human threat.

Hunting: Hunting is one of the primary threats in the alpine tundra. Recently, we have seen the the best solutions to reducing this threat is to place permanent hunting laws. This way, we reduce animal extinction and endangerment in the tundra.